Preparing for the PSSA 2014-Northgate-Nicole Smith

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Transcript of Preparing for the PSSA 2014-Northgate-Nicole Smith

Multiple Choice (40 Q) Evidence Based Selected Response (9 Q) Text-Dependent Analysis (2 Q) Stand Alone Writing Prompt (1 Q)Grammar (20 Q)5 Total PassagesTypes of QuestionsMultiple ChoiceMultiple Choice: Each of this type of test question has four answer choices. Some MC test questions are based on a reading passage, while the grammar MC test questions are independent of a passage. Each correct response to a MC test question is worth one point.MC ExamplesEvidence Based Selected ResponseSelected Response ExampleThe following question has two parts. Answer Part One and then answer Part Two.Part OneBased on “Bald eagle deaths raising concerns,” what is the relationship between theexistence of power lines and the rate of bald eagle deaths?A. The materials that are used to build power lines affect the rate of bald eagle deaths.B. The pesticides used near power lines affect the rate of bald eagle deaths.C. The distance power lines are from each other affects the rate of bald eagle deaths.D. The pollution created by power lines affects the rate of bald eagle deaths.Part TwoWhat evidence from the passage supports your answer above? Choose two answers.A. “. . . electricity transmission wires are within the distance of an eagle’s wingspan, . . .”B. “ ‘The danger comes from the potential to touch two lines,’ . . .”C. “Power poles and lines are particularly attractive to birds, . . .”D. “Crews found the dead bird while working to restore power in the area . . .”

Text-Dependent AnalysisUnlike a prompt, the TDA question is a text-dependent analysis, based on a passage or passage set that each student has read during the test event. Both Literature and Informational Texts are addressed through this item type. Students must draw on basic writing skills while inferring and synthesizing information from the passage in order to develop a comprehensive, holistic essay response. The demand required of a student's reading and writing skills in response to a TDA coincides with the similar demands required for a student to be college and career ready. The TDA is scored using a holistic scoring guideline on a 1-4 point scale. USE THE SEAT METHOD AND QUOTES AS EVIDENCE.TDA ExampleThe passages discuss the impact that people have had on the bald eagle. Write an essay analyzing how people are helping the bald eagle increase in numbers. Use information from all three passages to support your response.Descriptions and ExamplesPromptEach of this type of test question includes an extended response space in which the student composes an answer based on a provided prompt. A prompt is based on specific mode of writing and may ask the student to write an argumentative essay, an informative essay, or a narrative essay. Each prompt is scored on a 1-4 point scale using a holistic, mode-specific scoring guideline. USE THE SEAT METHOD AND MAKE UP THE EXAMPLES.

Argumentative Prompt ExampleA group is starting a program that would allow students to travel to space.Some people think this is a good idea because it would be a hands-on learning experience. Others think that the educational opportunity is not worth the cost.Should students be allowed to travel to space?Write an essay for your teacher that states your opinion about whether students should be allowed to travel to space and explains why. Be sure to use details and reasons to support your opinion.

Each two-part EBSR question is designed to elicit an evidence-based response from a student who has read either a Literature or Informational Text passage. In Part One, which is similar to a multiple-choice question, the student analyzes a passage and chooses the best answer from four answer choices. In Part Two, the student elicits evidence from the passage to select one or more answers based on his/her response to Part One. Part Two is different from a multiple-choice question in that there may be more than four answer options and more than one correct answer. Each EBSR test question is worth either two or three points. Directions for MCDirections for Multiple-Choice Questions: Some questions will ask you to select an answer from among four choices. For the multiple-choice questions: • First, read the passage carefully. • Read each question and choose the best answer. • Only one of the answers provided is correct. • You may look back at the passage to help you answer the question. • Record your choice in the answer booklet.

Prompt DirectionsDirections for the Opinion, Informative, or Narrative Prompt• Review the Writer’s Checklist to help you plan and organize your response.• Read the prompt carefully.• Review the scoring guidelines. These are the guidelines that will be used to score your response to the prompt. You may refer to the scoring guidelines at any time.

EBSR DirectionsDirections for Selected-Response Questions:Some questions will have two parts and will ask you to select one or more answers in each part.For the selected-response questions:• Read Part One of the question and choose the best answer.• You may look back at the passage to help you answer Part One of the question.• Record your choice to Part One in the answer booklet.• Only one of the answers provided in Part One is correct.• Then, read Part Two of the question and choose the best answer or answers based on your answer to Part One. If Part Two tells you to select two answers, be sure to select two answers.• You may look back at the passage to help you answer Part Two of the question.• Record your choice or choices to Part Two in the answer booklet.

Directions for Text-Dependent Analysis Questions:The English Language Arts TDA question will ask you to analyze the passage and use evidence from the passage to write an essay.For the TDA Essay:• Be sure to read the passage and TDA question carefully.• You may look back at the passage to help you write your essay.• Write your essay in the appropriate space in the answer booklet. If youuse scratch paper to write a rough-draft essay, be sure to transfer yourfinal essay to the answer booklet.• Be sure to check that your essay contains evidence from the passage to support your response.• Be sure to check your essay for errors in capitalization, spelling, sentence formation, punctuation, and word choice.

TDA DirectionsWhat is the overall structure of all three passages?

A. All three passages compare different ways that have been used to increase the number of bald eagles.B. All three passages discuss the cause and effect of the bald eagle decreasing and then increasing in number.C. All three passages ask a question about how the bald eagle has increased in number and then answer it.D. All three passages discuss the issue of the decreasing number of bald eagles with details in order of importance.

Informative Prompt ExampleThink about the activities you could do on a rainy day. These could be inside or even outside in the rain. They can be something you do on your own or with others. What is one activity that you could do on a rainy day?Write an essay for your teacher that describes one activity you could do on a rainy day. Be sure to use details and examples to explain your idea.

Narrative Prompt ExampleImagine that something exciting happened at school. It could be something that really has happened or something you make up.Write a story for your teacher that tells about something exciting that happened at school. Make sure your story has a beginning, middle, and end.

7th-8th Grade ELATestYour test will have the following percentage breakdown:

Evidence Support Tips1. Can be more subtle than what you are used to finding.2. Might be dialogue3. Good chance it will contain an ellipsis. (...)4. Could be an action or comment grounded in inference.